Chamber and committees

I have met with a number of the major retailers to discuss a range of issues including the sourcing of quality Scottish products. I have obtained a commitment from several major multiples to stock Scottish goods, where they can be produced in sufficient volume. It is not possible to make any estimate of job losses in the industry should supermarkets not stock Scottish tomatoes as this would depend on market conditions elsewhere at the particular time.

The Assisted Areas map is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

The UK Government has submitted to the European Commission, the Assisted Areas map proposals published on 10 April 2000 in Amendments to the Government's Proposals for New Assisted Areas (URN 00/776). This document is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The European Commission is now considering these map proposals, together with possible changes thereto.

The Executive has made clear in its dealings with the European Commission that it is committed to reducing discards of all species. The new EC technical conservation Regulation which came into force on 1 January this year introduced new measures to reduce discarding. Furthermore I am introducing new measures shortly which will reduce discards of juvenile haddock and whiting.

The lack of UK quota for saithe means that the issue is more apparent for this stock. However, the stock is not in good condition and there is good reason to avoid management measures, such as permitting landing of over-quota fish, which would encourage the targeting of this species. Any reallocation of the stock between member states would, of course, jeopardise the principle of Relative Stability, the basis used to allocate catches between countries. The Scottish Industry have made very clear the extreme importance they attach to the maintenance of this principle.

None - by their very nature. By definition, non-governmental organisations are not created by the Scottish Executive.

I do intend to publish the conclusions of recent meetings between Ministers, the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit and businesses, now that the series is complete. I will discuss with the Minister for the Parliament your suggestion for a debate.

The Independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment reviewed the current evidence on exposure and use of organophosphates and their effects on health. Its report of November 1999 concluded that acute poisoning from organophosphates causes acute ill health with evidence to support long-term symptoms of acute poisoning can occur as nueropsychological abnormalities and periphery neuropathy. The committee also concluded there is insufficient evidence that prolonged low level exposure to organophosphates is hazardous to health.

It is not the practice of the Scottish Executive to disclose whether they have taken legal advice on an issue, nor to disclose the nature of any legal advice received. I am satisfied that there is nothing in the regulations which is incompatible with any legal obligation to which the Executive is subject, including the obligation to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

This paper was an independent initiative of Scott Wilson (Rail), transport consultants. The Scottish Executive did not commission it and had no involvement in its preparation.

The closure of railways and railway stations is a reserved matter. However, in preparing our directions and guidance for the replacement of the Scottish franchise, the Scottish Executive will build on the Franchising Director's insistence that current levels of service should be secured as a minimum.

No. The rate poundage figure for 2000-01 of 45.8 pence was set to ensure that the total tax income from non-domestic rates, after appeals, remained unchanged in real terms as a result of the 2000 Revaluation of non-domestic rates. A paper detailing this calculation was made available on 17 January 2000 and is available from SPICe.

Officials wrote to UHI on 6 April setting out issues for UHI to resolve with its Academic Partners before we can reach a decision on whether to approve the application submitted on behalf of a new institution, called UHI, to be designated as a provider of higher education, eligible for funding by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. These are, broadly, technical issues surrounding service level provision, and constitutionaI issues concerning the respective responsibilities of UHI and its Academic Partners. I met Sir Fraser Morrison, Chairman of UHI, the company promoting the University of the Highlands and Islands Project, on 9 June, and he was able to give me an encouraging report of progress in addressing the outstanding issues. I have no plans to meet Professor Duffield.

Designation is a necessary first step for all higher education institutions seeking university status. In addition, they must satisfy rigorous academic, breadth and numeric criteria. These have been agreed by all four UK Ministers with responsibility for higher education and the Privy Council, which is responsible for authorising use of the word "university" as part of an institution's title. UHI would be expected to meet these criteria.